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3. 2023 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference

Agritourism Risk Education Programming: The Evolving Landscape of the Support Ecosystem

Claudia Schmidt

Summary

The 2017 census showed that the number of farms selling goods directly to consumers had increased to 130,056, which amounted to US$ 2.8 billion in sales. The census also revealed that 28,575 farms were providing agritourism and recreational services, generating $949 million in revenue. As agritourism is gaining popularity as a viable diversification option for farmers, providing resources and assistance is becoming increasingly important to help them make the most of this opportunity. In our presentation, we will discuss the agritourism support ecosystem in the United States and how the business and regulatory environment differs across states. By “support ecosystem” we mean the set of organizations that regulate and/or support agritourism operations, as well as the laws and regulatory framework that influence the environment in which agritourism operators make decisions. The support ecosystem constantly evolves regarding changing attitudes about what constitutes agritourism activities, consumer demand, and regulations. As such, agritourism operators must stay abreast of changes and understand how their operations fit into the larger context of their local community and region to remain competitive. We draw from several different previous and current agritourism NERME-funded projects from the co-authors of this presentation and explore the importance of regional risk management education to ensure agritourism businesses remain competitive and viable. Co-authors of the presentation are Lisa Chase (UVM), Doolarie Singh-Knights (WVU), Jason Entsminger (UOM), and Sarah Cornelisse (PSU).

Details

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